Grading Policy

I will follow the district’s E to A grading system. For me, an “A” means that a student has done all of the work in exemplary fashion as has shown remarkable intelligence. A “B” means that a student is performing above average. A “C” means that the student has turned in either a spotty amount of excellent work or average work. A “D” means that the student has performed well below average, but still deserves not to have to retake the class. “E” means no credit. The pluses and minuses will further differentiate the students and give them something towards which to strive. I grade the work turned in, not the perceived personal quality of the student.

My grades are based on a simple points system. On some assignments it is easy to get all of the points. On others getting even half of the points may be satisfactory.

I do occasionally assign extra credit, but never in the last two weeks of each quarter. I will not allow extra credit to add more than 10% to any student’s grade. If you do more extra credit than that, the additional points will not raise your grade. Plan ahead.

I post grades on the Source as often as I can. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy of my grading and grade recording. I grade approximately 5,600 assignments a semester (140 students, 40 assignments). It would be a miracle if I didn’t blow it occasionally, so check your papers when I return them, and check your posted grade often. Don’t wait until the end of the semester to bring a problem to my attention; I may not believe you. Save your work as evidence.

Approximately 30% of each student’s grades come from various sorts of in-class work.

I will assign a paper or major project of some sort (research, essays, etc.) every few weeks. There will also occasionally be reading homework. Approximately 30% of a student’s grade will be homework and out-of-class essay based.

Approximately 30% of each student’s grade will come from tests.

Each semester will end with a comprehensive test that will be worth 10% of the student’s grade.